Small Craft Advisory

More than a few years ago, I came up with the bright idea to take my cocker spaniel mix with me out on the water. It seemed doable; all dogs love water. He is on the small side as far as dogs go, other than his Napoleon complex, that is. And I would have a ready-to-go companion on paddle and hunting trips.

Plagued by extremely high water temperatures in his normal fishery near Topsail Island, Wayne Crisco of Last Resort Charters made a faithful decision on Thursday to head north to Sneads Ferry in search of cooler water and big flounder. The end result was a 10.07-pound flounder that his long-time client, Ron Ripz of Surf City, not only caught, but also released.

Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures said the fishing in the New River and Intracoastal Waterway around Sneads Ferry isn't as hot as the steamy weather, but it's pretty good and at times really good, with speckled trout and redfish feeding and often hitting topwater baits.

A Manteo angler who hadn’t fished for several weeks made a big splash on his return last Saturday, landing a 65-pound king mackerel from the end of Jeanette’s Pier in Nags Head on what was supposed to be a trip for cobia.

All summer, the internet has lit up with tales of shark attacks along the Carolina coast, as well as hapless kayak anglers being overturned by big sharks. In reality, sharks are a common gamefish along the coasts of both Carolinas and make for exciting sport, especially when landed from a kayak.

Capt. Noah Lynk of Harkers Island said the flounder bite is on in the marshes around Cape Lookout and Harkers Island, with fish hungry and being aggressive at times, hitting live baits and artificials.

The Pamlico Sound is the largest saltwater lagoon along the eastern seaboard and the second-largest in the United States. With thousands of square miles of water available, the brigade of adult red drum has endless places to travel. But a few tips can help fishermen make their trips more productive.

Over the past 20 years, the old drum fishery in the Pamlico Sound has grown to epic proportions. The heavy fishing pressure requires the fishery to be managed correctly, and the popping cork rig is a big help in reducing catch-and-release mortality, which typically arises from deep-hooking, stress from prolonged battles or improper handling when caught.

Many bordering states have some sort of reciprocal agreement for fishermen plying border waters, but North Carolina and South Carolina do not, possibly because of the significant differences in the way several species are regulated.

Ocean Crest Pier was one of North Carolina’s last-built ocean fishing platforms, with construction finished in 1968 by Warren Calloway, a World War II veteran. He added a motel in 1972 that his wife operated.

Capt. Rennie Clark of Tournament Trail Charters said the early morning speckled trout action around Carolina Beach has been about as hot as the weather, with specks crushing bait on the surface, dictating the use of topwater baits for fish that are averaging 3 to 5 pounds.